BETHANY, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the road portion of the regular season Thursday evening to Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm used a 10-0 run to take the lead late in the second half before closing out the 71-57 win over the Rangers.

Northwestern falls to 13-14 on the season with a 10-11 Great American Conference record while Southern Nazarene improves to 19-6 overall with a 16-5 GAC record. 

 The Rangers were led in scoring by Camron McDowell with 24 points one of two double figure scorers joined by Max Alexander with 16 points. McDowell and Alexander led the team with four assists each as McDowell had a team high seven rebounds. 

Cam McDowell hit a three pointer to open the game assisted by Kenyon Holcombe off the opening tip off for the early 3-0 lead. Southern Nazarene took their first lead at 4-3 after back to back layups, before McDowell ended their run. McDowell scored the first nine points of the game for the Rangers. DaRaun Clark stole the ball and finished the fast break with an assist up to Justin Norris as the Rangers trailed 14-11 with 10:08 left in the first half. 

Southern Nazarene and the Rangers were scoreless for the next two minutes before Stevie Strong hit his third three pointer of the night for a 19-11 lead. Alexander and Liam Canty hit back to back layups as Northwestern trailed 19-15. Canty had an offensive put back layup. Justin Norris brought the deficit back down to one possession on a Norris three pointer for his fifth point of the game assisted by Alexander. 

Off a Southern Nazarene turnover Alexander went in front to score, but the Crimson Storm answered back with a three pointer for a nine point Storm lead at 31-22. Southern Nazarene went into the halftime break leading by nine points at 33-24. 

Out of the halftime break Southern Nazarene struck first pushing their lead to 10 points, but McDowell drilled a three pointer at 34-27. This helped spark a run for the Rangers as Northwestern got back within three points at 36-33 with 17:22 left to play in the game. Logan Phillips hit his first shot of the game as the Rangers continued to be within one possession. After an Alexander three pointer followed by a Justin Norris layup tied the game at 40-40 with 13:50 left in the game. 

The two teams continued to stay tied at 44-44 with 11:42 left in the game. After the Rangers tied the game Southern Nazarene answered with a 9-0 run to take the lead back at 53-44, sparked by a couple of forced turnovers. McDowell ended their run with a layup on the break started by a Phillips steal.

At the 5:18 mark Southern Nazarene got the lead back to double digits at 59-49 after a Godfrey layup. The Crimson Storm got their largest lead at 16 points at 68-52. Southern Nazarene closed out the 14 point victory over the Rangers 71-57 after McDowell hit the final shot of the game. 

Northwestern Basketball is back in action on Saturday afternoon for the final game of the regular season against Southeastern Oklahoma State, with tip-off set for 3:00 PM.
 
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